The Bastard Executioner

Previously, on The Bastard Executioner...

Noble whore! He is my husband!

He is mine!

There are nine scriptures.

Jesus...

son of Joseph.

That is Robinus and his army pursue us.

Piers Gaveston shall be cast out and exiled.

And it is my mission,

for both God and country, to make certain

that his third banishment be his last.

If my men could deliver Gaveston,

might that beg compensation?

Your source, Chamberlain?

The twin maidens.

Gaveston's half-sisters

and conspirators.

Your mother's taken ill, boy.

Our good priest will care for you.

It's time to travel, good soldiers.

Justice waits in the marshes.

Get yourself cleaned up.

Seeing to our morning meal, Maddox?

Your appetite's not my concern.

Well, this is exhilarating,

is it not?

Band of skilled soldiers on a mission

to capture a French traitor.

Risking all to save their shire.

Perhaps someday they'll sing songs of our bravery.

And it will be a short and clumsy tune.

Full of sour notes and harsh rhymes.

No, you're such a beautiful girl.

Idn't ya? You beautiful girl.

You have a way with them.

It is the oat slop that makes these girls happy.

And the other animals?

The brutes who bind me?

What makes them friendly?

Their tempers are nothing I tend to.

You are very wise.

And such a kind face.

May I have a better look?

Like an angel.

No.

Although I will have wings someday.

Of course you will...

Ash.

Ash.

May I ask a favor,

Ash the angel?

My ties pull so tightly after yesterday's ride,

I can barely feel my hands and feet.

Might you loosen them a bit...

allow the color to return?

Yea.

If you promise not to run away.

Of course.

: Thank you.

Sorry, girl, I didn't forget about you.

Where were we?

You want some more oat slop?

Yeah, that's nice.

Aw, there's a good girl. There's a...

What are these quarters?

They are my maiden's.

I am a prisoner.

You are restrained because of your misguided rage.

But no one other than the priest,

my maiden and Wilkin know this.

Wilkin?

Yes.

That is the name of the man

claiming the identity of your husband, Gawain,

who I've learned was killed

in the same battle as my husband.

Killed?

I doubt my lady would try to lay claim to a dead man.

Gawain Maddox was slain in battle.

You opened your heart to save a stranger,

claiming he was your husband.

You took that risk,

hoping to create a better...

kinder family.

But the grip of that illusion must be broken.

You are the one in need of breaking illusion.

I know my husband... Stop!

You have two choices, woman.

If you stay lost in this distorted dream,

you will face the claim of assault on a baroness.

No one will believe what you say about Wilkin and myself.

It'll be taken as the madness of a tortured woman.

You will be put to death,

and your children turned over to servitude.

Let that harshness settle in you, Jessamy.

Use it to tear down the wall between you

and God's truth.

They have the priest.

They took an innocent.

The boy.

You must eat, child.

No more.

He is fortified with faith.

The pain just strengthens that.

Tend to his wounds.

Nourish him.

Then I will begin my work.

Yes, master.

Sirs!

Sirs! The maiden,

she worked her binds free.

She's gone.

How?!

I was out gathering grass

for the steeds.

Who tied the weak binds?

I did... Chamberlain.

She may have had others

aid her escape... They will warn Gaveston.

Yes. We need to make haste to Pembroke's Manor.

The same four knights hold the front.

Change at the hour.

Perhaps keeping more sizable forces within.

Yea.

How are we to know they hold the Frenchman?

He is there. I can smell the arrogance.

The door on the north side is fortified.

Wagons block the entry. This is the only ingress.

Seems our fugitive twin has yet to find her way here.

There's no sign of readiness. Yea.

We need to get a better sense of their true number.

Draw them out somehow.

Ash.

Oh.

Sorry. This is Bernadette.

We met at the stream. Lovely girl.

Not much of a talker.

Which I have to admit,

I rather like.

It's the desire of every man.

A beautiful, silent doe.

Bernadette! Behave. Come on.

Come on.

Hold there.

Ah. Yea, good knights.

I come bearing fresh meat.

I trap these woods.

I see that you have many hungry men within.

We've not enough mouths to feed on a full cow.

Ah.

Then smoke the rest.

She's thick with fat.

Keeps till winter. (bellows)

Sounds like Pembroke travels

with no more than half a legion.

Not to call attention to the transport of an exiled noble.

Crafty trapper.

We move off in the morning,

but the steward will take it to travel.

Tie her up with our spare steeds.

Yea?

That seems best.

Yea, there.

We will take your game, trapper.

I'm afraid my girl doesn't much care for the company of horses.

They turn her innards, spoil her meat.

Good day.

I am sure you must be hungry.

Where are my children?

The baby is with my maiden,

and the priest looks after your son.

I cannot eat with hands bound.

I am to be fed like a child?

Yes.

Or not at all.

You spoke of two choices.

If you accept God's truth in this matter,

acknowledge that Wilkin did not betray you,

for he is not your husband,

if you convince me that you are able to do that,

then there will never be mention of your attack

and I will see to it that you, your son, and daughter

will always have a home and work